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December 2018 AOR - join here

PrasadK

Hero Member
Jul 5, 2019
789
1,218
Toronto, ON
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
CIO Sydney NS
NOC Code......
2173
AOR Received.
27-01-2019
Passport Req..
08-11-2019
VISA ISSUED...
26-11-2019
LANDED..........
15-01-2020
Finally got the Ready for Visa email/PPR!! So glad this torturous wait is over! Had to go through so much but I must say this feeling is good! I used to silently follow this thread then most of the people got their PPRs around the same time USProgrammer and derksdou got theirs. Since then I felt left behind and became a bit active here, but knowing so many people still waiting just made me sadder day by day. Not anymore! Thank you everyone here for all the information and support!

————————

VO: CIO Sydney throughout

ITA: Dec 5, 2018
AOR: Dec 28, 2018
MEP/IP1: Feb 7, 2019

Nothing after this, loong wait
July 15 2019 - The only helpful call center agent helped me and told me my Eligibility was marked Not Met because the Officer wasn’t satisfied with my document for work experience. Suggested upload updated work experience letter with paystubs. My suspicion was that the job duties weren’t enough or satisfying. I uploaded updated letter with LOA.

Aug 15 2019 - Because i didnt get my H1B picked in my last chance at the lottery my status expired and I moved back to India as till this date I heard nothing from Canada. Submitted Address Change webform.

Sep 25, 2019 - Received GCMS notes dated Sep 4, confirmed CIO wasn’t satisfied with my job duties. March 3 was the last time they touched my file.

IP2: Oct 1, 2019 (Ghost Update)
PPR/Ready for Visa: Oct 4, 2019 (from IRCC.CIO-BRCD.IRCC@cic.gc.ca)

—————————-
They still sent me the US passport mailing instructions even though I updated my address, so I sent them an email to give me updated instructions for my current residence.
Congrats! Really encouraging to hear of your experience, especially in regards to the 'Not Met' issue and the fact that your VO is Sydney :D Good luck in Canada and godspeed! :)
 

tarunraja1

Full Member
May 22, 2019
31
42
I’m being skeptical since its IRCC and I don’t expect timely responses, but is it okay to take the print of the Ready for Visa email (which has instructions for mailing for US/Canada applicants), my passport and photos to my local VFS (New Delhi)?
 

diaana424

Newbie
Oct 4, 2019
1
7
AOR - Dec 13, 2018
Medicals passed - mid January
RPRF fee requested - Feb 18, 2019

Called after that and was told my application is in review, ordered GCMS notes and it confirmed that POF requires review. Then silence for a very, very long time...

Ghost update - September 27, 2019
PPR e-mail - October 3, 2019

Nothing in between at all and was surprised to see that no ADR was requested and it got approved right away after the ghost update. Finally :)

VO - Sydney
Stream - FSW Inland

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting and hope you will get the good news soon!
 
Jun 24, 2019
8
12
Hello silent reader here.

I wanted to let everyone know that my spouse and I received our Permanent Residency! The long wait is finally over.

AOR: December 16, 2018
Type of Application: CEC Inland, Primary and dependent spouse
VO: Edmonton
Medicals passed: Jan. 19, 2018
Request for Canadian Background Check for spouse: Jan. 19, 2019
Date Canadian Background check provided: Feb. 10, 2019
Requested 1st GCMS Notes: April 3, 2019
Requested 2nd GCMS Notes: June 10, 2019
Golden Email: Sept. 27, 2019
Landing Interview: Oct. 3, 2019

As a head’s up for anyone who has to do a landing interview, make sure that you memorize the dates that you have entered and exited Canada as the answers need to match exactly what is on your application. That was a little nerve-racking as we had to quickly research in old emails to quickly find the information. I wish I would have just printed out the information and took it with me. Overall, the interview took about 15-20 minutes.

I have no idea why our file took 10 months to process, especially considering we got vetted by the Canadian government before we even got issued our work permits 2-3 years ago. Both of us have only lived in the US or Canada in the past 10 years and there were no gaps in our file or anything that could even remotely be open to interpretation. We both work for a large employer with a strong reputation in Canada, filed our tax returns in Canada with said employer, work permits are with said employer, and had absolutely no criminal history. Our jobs clearly fit the NOC description. We had plenty of funds and our file should have been very easy to verify. Every single background check was clean. Even the list of documents we were required to bring to the landing interview was very small: passports, recent pictures, the landing letters, and the RFPF payment receipt. Additionally, no other requests for additional documents were made. So I have no idea why our file took 10 months for IRCC to make a decision.

We engaged an immigration lawyer to review our file. When we spoke to our lawyers about possible next steps as the application was getting quite aged, they indicated that each time you raise a query or request GCMS notes, it slows down your application by 2 months. Because there are so many files the agents have to work on, they start with the files which have gone the longest without being touched. So if you submit a Case Specific Inquiry or request GCMS notes and force the agent to send you an answer, then it looks like an agent has recently touched your file even though all they did was copy and paste the same generic message to you. So the lawyers recommended just waiting patiently for the agent to work our file. Overall, I think this theory makes the most sense as it is based upon human nature and an actual Canadian Immigration Attorney’s experience. Why would an agent touch a file that had been touched in the past month when there are files that have not been touched in 3-5 months? At my old job, I used to use the same prioritization system on any files I worked on so it makes sense that IRCC agents would do the same, especially considering the massive pile of work they have.

I think the first mistake we made was raising our GCMS request in April 2019 which was approx. 4 months after we applied. I think that caused the agents to not touch our file again as it had looked like it had been recently worked on. Then I raised another GCMS request in June 2019, again causing it to look like someone worked on my file. After that I raised Case Specific inquiries every 2 weeks for 2-3 months constantly waiting for good news. I even contacted my MP 1x a month to have them request the Agent to provide updates. Looking back now, I wish I never would have requested any notes or raised any inquiries as I believe that slowed down my application as I was causing someone to look at my file every two weeks once I passed the 6 month mark. In the latter half of August to the end of September, I did not raise any queries and magically our file got worked on and we received PR.

Overall, I don’t understand how IRCC prioritizes their work nor do I understand why a straight-forward file like mine took so long. I have a friend who applied from India for himself and his spouse and they received PR after only one month. Another friend applied within Canada in March 2019 and received their answer in June 2019 and their VO was the Edmonton office (same as mine). I have absolutely no idea why our file was delayed other than someone decided somewhere to hide our file and not work on it. However, today, all I can feel is gratitude that someone finally took pity on us and decided to work on our file. We are very excited to start this new chapter in our lives and I sincerely hope that the rest of your hear some good news soon. I am sending positive thoughts your way and I hope everything goes well.
 

vshiva212

Full Member
Oct 24, 2018
34
4
Looks like a lot of people have got their Visa Ready emails in these couple of days. I have got mine too today, however, there is no update on the portal. I am glad that this harrowing wait has come to a positive conclusion for all of us.
 

capricorn7

Star Member
Aug 14, 2018
174
212
Hello silent reader here.

I wanted to let everyone know that my spouse and I received our Permanent Residency! The long wait is finally over.

AOR: December 16, 2018
Type of Application: CEC Inland, Primary and dependent spouse
VO: Edmonton
Medicals passed: Jan. 19, 2018
Request for Canadian Background Check for spouse: Jan. 19, 2019
Date Canadian Background check provided: Feb. 10, 2019
Requested 1st GCMS Notes: April 3, 2019
Requested 2nd GCMS Notes: June 10, 2019
Golden Email: Sept. 27, 2019
Landing Interview: Oct. 3, 2019

As a head’s up for anyone who has to do a landing interview, make sure that you memorize the dates that you have entered and exited Canada as the answers need to match exactly what is on your application. That was a little nerve-racking as we had to quickly research in old emails to quickly find the information. I wish I would have just printed out the information and took it with me. Overall, the interview took about 15-20 minutes.

I have no idea why our file took 10 months to process, especially considering we got vetted by the Canadian government before we even got issued our work permits 2-3 years ago. Both of us have only lived in the US or Canada in the past 10 years and there were no gaps in our file or anything that could even remotely be open to interpretation. We both work for a large employer with a strong reputation in Canada, filed our tax returns in Canada with said employer, work permits are with said employer, and had absolutely no criminal history. Our jobs clearly fit the NOC description. We had plenty of funds and our file should have been very easy to verify. Every single background check was clean. Even the list of documents we were required to bring to the landing interview was very small: passports, recent pictures, the landing letters, and the RFPF payment receipt. Additionally, no other requests for additional documents were made. So I have no idea why our file took 10 months for IRCC to make a decision.

We engaged an immigration lawyer to review our file. When we spoke to our lawyers about possible next steps as the application was getting quite aged, they indicated that each time you raise a query or request GCMS notes, it slows down your application by 2 months. Because there are so many files the agents have to work on, they start with the files which have gone the longest without being touched. So if you submit a Case Specific Inquiry or request GCMS notes and force the agent to send you an answer, then it looks like an agent has recently touched your file even though all they did was copy and paste the same generic message to you. So the lawyers recommended just waiting patiently for the agent to work our file. Overall, I think this theory makes the most sense as it is based upon human nature and an actual Canadian Immigration Attorney’s experience. Why would an agent touch a file that had been touched in the past month when there are files that have not been touched in 3-5 months? At my old job, I used to use the same prioritization system on any files I worked on so it makes sense that IRCC agents would do the same, especially considering the massive pile of work they have.

I think the first mistake we made was raising our GCMS request in April 2019 which was approx. 4 months after we applied. I think that caused the agents to not touch our file again as it had looked like it had been recently worked on. Then I raised another GCMS request in June 2019, again causing it to look like someone worked on my file. After that I raised Case Specific inquiries every 2 weeks for 2-3 months constantly waiting for good news. I even contacted my MP 1x a month to have them request the Agent to provide updates. Looking back now, I wish I never would have requested any notes or raised any inquiries as I believe that slowed down my application as I was causing someone to look at my file every two weeks once I passed the 6 month mark. In the latter half of August to the end of September, I did not raise any queries and magically our file got worked on and we received PR.

Overall, I don’t understand how IRCC prioritizes their work nor do I understand why a straight-forward file like mine took so long. I have a friend who applied from India for himself and his spouse and they received PR after only one month. Another friend applied within Canada in March 2019 and received their answer in June 2019 and their VO was the Edmonton office (same as mine). I have absolutely no idea why our file was delayed other than someone decided somewhere to hide our file and not work on it. However, today, all I can feel is gratitude that someone finally took pity on us and decided to work on our file. We are very excited to start this new chapter in our lives and I sincerely hope that the rest of your hear some good news soon. I am sending positive thoughts your way and I hope everything goes well.
Congratulations and all the best I will slightly differ here. Everyone thinks their file is straight forward and they have clean history.

For example a person has not done any crime in past and has no police records but his name is common and someone else with same name has some history. For security reasons they will have to ensure background is verified properly.
 
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capricorn7

Star Member
Aug 14, 2018
174
212
Congratulations and all the best I will slightly differ here. Everyone thinks their file is straight forward and they have clean history.

For example a person has not done any crime in past and has no police records but his name is common and someone else with same name has some history. For security reasons they will have to ensure background is verified properly.
But yes how IRCC picks up cases is a mystery. They definitely do not follow first in first out policy. Their pattern of picking file is as complex as duckworth Luis method in rain effective cricket match
PS- this only cricket lovers will understand
 

supun567

Star Member
Aug 1, 2019
57
18
37
Sri Lanka
Visa Office......
Ottawa
AOR Received.
22-12-2018
Finally.. its the PPR ladies and gentlemen.... I have been regularly reading the posts in the forum and it immensely helped me to go through each of the stages (Dec 22 AOR). My case was a complex one since i had 7 years of military experience. My security started on 06 August and I believed I’m in SS since i had lot of pages in my GCMS which were blank with S (15). 1 as heading and also considering my history in military.Total pages on my GCMS was 153 . As per my experience i feel that even ones with military exposure does not go to SS by default. (as per people’s experiences here i never believed I would receive PPR this soon)

Anyway... all the very best to everyone in the forum and I wish you all speedy PPRs. If you need any help don't bother to tag and contact me.

CHEERS!!!!
 

tanu912

Full Member
Nov 1, 2017
34
24
Visa Office......
Mississauga
App. Filed.......
01-08-2023
AOR Received.
06-09-2023
Looks like a lot of people have got their Visa Ready emails in these couple of days. I have got mine too today, however, there is no update on the portal. I am glad that this harrowing wait has come to a positive conclusion for all of us.
congratulations.. CAN YOU SHARE YOUR VO?
 

tarunraja1

Full Member
May 22, 2019
31
42
I’m being skeptical since its IRCC and I don’t expect timely responses, but is it okay to take the print of the Ready for Visa email (which has instructions for mailing for US/Canada applicants), my passport and photos to my local VFS (New Delhi)?
Does anyone have an idea about this? Since some others here have a similar situation, ill tag @USProgrammer @legalfalcon to know their opinion on this.